IMD issues red alert in Odisha; Several states bracing for heavy rainfall

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised a red flag for parts of Odisha and issued a rainfall warning for several states for the remainder of the week. 

The meteorological agency predicts that Odisha will continue to experience heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours as a well-marked low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression. It is expected to further weaken into a depression as it moves west-northwest wards within the subsequent 24 hours.

The regional weather department in Odisha has issued a red alert for four districts – Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, and Sambalpur, while other districts have been placed under orange and yellow alerts for Wednesday.

In Bihar, light to moderate widespread rainfall is expected to persist until August 5, with some isolated regions likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall during this period. Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal are also predicted to receive widespread rainfall, with some areas experiencing higher-intensity showers. Madhya Pradesh will encounter similar weather conditions until August 4, with isolated regions in the eastern parts of the state likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on August 3.

States like Uttar Pradesh, Himalayan regions, and Rajasthan will continue to experience rainfall this week. The IMD forecasts light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated instances of heavy rainfall in these areas. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana will witness rainfall until August 5, while Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh will see an increase in rainfall from August 3 to 5. The northeast region is also expected to experience widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rain over the next five days.

Additionally, Konkan, Goa, and Maharashtra will witness showers, with some isolated regions experiencing higher-intensity rainfall in the coming four days. Gujarat region is likely to witness a similar situation on August 1, 4, and 5. Coastal Karnataka will continue to experience widespread showers until August 4. As the IMD issues these warnings, people in the affected regions are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during heavy rainfall and potential flooding.